Rescued Manatee Named Melby Released Into Florida River After Remarkable Recovery
A manatee nicknamed “Melby” splashed back into Florida waters on Tuesday after a remarkable two-month recovery — 105 pounds heavier and far healthier than the day rescuers pulled him from a storm drain.
Staff from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released Melby into the Eau Gallie River at Ballard Park in Melbourne on April 7.
The release drew community members of all ages, local government representatives and members of the Rotary Club of Melbourne Beach — many of whom had followed Melby’s story since his dramatic rescue in February.
Melby the Manatee’s Recovery Took Place at SeaWorld
When Melby first arrived at SeaWorld Orlando for rehabilitation, he weighed 410 pounds. Veterinarians described him as “emaciated,” often characterized by the loss of fat and muscle mass.
Melby was also said to have several wounds, a small infection and was noticeably stiff, likely from being trapped and unable to move inside a narrow pipe.
By the time of his release, he had gained 105 pounds and tipped the scales at 515 pounds.
“We got him fattened up. We did a very good job of that,” SeaWorld Orlando Senior Staff Veterinarian Lydia Staggs said, per Central Florida Public Media.
“He was a little off; a little stiff, probably from being in the pipe and not being able to move around. But after a few days, he was moving quite well,” Staggs added.
His treatment at SeaWorld included wound care and antibiotics to address his injuries and the small infection he arrived with.
How Melby the Manatee Got Stuck In a Storm Drain
The story began on Feb. 9 when city surveyors in Melbourne Beach, Florida heard an unusual chirping coming from a storm drain under the road.
What they thought was rats ended up being Melby — a 7-foot, 410-pound manatee.
The surveyors found Melby wedged inside a “baffle box” — a concrete structure used to filter out pollutants from water before it enters the waterways.
The manatee likely entered the drain pipe during a cold snap. Since manatees seek warm water during cold weather, Melby was likely seeking refuge in a nearby natural spring, such as the Three Sisters Springs and Blue Spring State Park.
Unfortunately, many of those natural springs have either stopped flowing, been cut off by development or been polluted.
The drain pipe likely provided the warm water Melby needed. But since the pipe contained very little water, he couldn’t turn around inside it and, instead, got stuck.
Melby the Manatee’s Rescue Wasn’t Easy
Melby the manatee’s rescue took a village, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Brevard County Fire Department, the Brevard County Public Works and a private towing company.
Before anyone could reach Melby, rescue teams had to prepare the environment. Ventilation fans were installed to pump fresh air into the drain.
A firefighter descended into the space using respiratory protection and air quality monitoring equipment, then placed a large plastic sheet over the manatee to protect the animal from falling debris during what came next.
Next, the Brevard County Public Works removed 10,000 pounds of concrete to free the trapped animal. A private towing company helped hoist Melby out of the drain free of charge.
The manatee was then loaded onto a truck and transported to SeaWorld Orlando, where his nearly two-month rehabilitation began.
From the city surveyors who first heard his cries to the firefighters who descended into the drain, the veterinary team that nursed him back to health and the crowd that cheered his return to the river, Melby’s journey captured the attention of a community that rallied around one stranded manatee.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
